Man returns $125,000 that fell from armored truck

May 30th, 2014by Associated Press in Local - Breaking News

Joe Cornell returned a bag full of about $125,000 that fell out of Brinks truck in Fresno, Calif. Cornell and received a $5,000 reward. Brinks will make a separate $5,000 donation to the Salvation Army.

Photo by
Associated Press/Times Free Press.

FRESNO, Calif. - A Salvation Army worker in California is being rewarded for his decision to return a bag containing $125,000 that fell from an armored truck.

Joe Cornell tells The Fresno Bee that he found the cash Tuesday after a Brinks truck pulled away from a red light in Fresno and left the sack behind.

The 52-year-old Cornell is in a Salvation Army substance-abuse rehabilitation program. His duties for the organization include working on donated trailers.

Cornell says he started crying and shaking after finding the money. He says he decided to report it to police after thinking of his coming grandchild.

Brinks spokesman Ed Cunningham says he isn't sure how the truck lost the money, and called the incident a security issue.

The company will give Cornell a $5,000 reward and make a separate $5,000 donation to the Salvation Army.